Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-29
A Strange Race.
THE HYDAHS OF THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
THEIR RFIONGINGS

THE HYDAHS OF THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
AND THEIR BELONGINGS.
From the New York Mail and Express
There Is now On exhibition at the Old London
Street one OF the finest collections Of Indian relics
and curiosities ever seen in this city, They were
collected by Capt Newton H. Chittenden on the
Queen Charlotte Islands, of British Columbia.
The people OF these islands, now reduced to $50
souls, are OF fair complexion and remarkably In
| teliigant. In accordance with well-known ety.
mological principle their name, "Hydahs," means
One OF these Hydah curiosities is hammer,
carved and on granite. Its head, inches long, is
shaped like that OF an eagle. AS the tribe Is
divided into political parties, known respectively
| as the Bears and the Eagles, this hammer was
probably political emblem. Another implement
is a warriors weapon, made Of ALASKAN COPPER
and shaped like battle-ax. The head OF the
Hydah god Wasco is hammered on one end OF the
ak. These weapons are highly priced and Capt.
Chittenden obtained this sample from woman
after promising TO conceal 1t until he should leave
the country. The captain did not say what he
gave in return for this most interesting curiosity
but 1t is known that similar one was secured In
exchange for six slaves at $500 each, eighty elk
dance dresses valued at $40 piece and canoe
to 81 go.
nary set Of gambling sticks used by the natives
The usual set contains fifty Sticks but this one Is
composed OF only twenty-six. They are cylindri-
cal In form and about inches long, Twenty -four
OF them are beautifully carved with the images OF
fish, birds, and beasts found In that region. The
peculiar feature OF the set Is that the sticks
are carved with human figures almost exact
counterparts OF the figures found on the old Egypt
Ian monuments and in ASsyrian carving One
represents high priest with his ak raised to Stay
the sacrifice. The other is the figure OF a mummy
The fre-mak1ng implement OF these people is a
narrow piece OF walruS tusk about q foot and q
half long, shaped like bow, and on which are en-
graved hunting scenes. To this is attached seal
skin string. Fire is made by taking turn OF the
string around stick OF hard wood, and by these
means revolving 1t against another piece OF hard
wood Punk is placed from time to time In the
hole worn In the under board and the heat gener-
ated from the friction OF the two pieces OF
wood causes the punk to ignite. The music
OF the hydOlta Is an imitation Of the cries
OF the birds, and Is made by series Of
whistles, with which the natives become very ex-
pert. They also use the tOm-tom, made Of walr,ls
hides
These people have novel way Of hunting birds,
using instead OF bow and arrows, q peculiarly
shaped harpOOn. This instrument Is about feet
long, the point being male OF q piece OF walrus
tusk 10 inches long. The stick is OF cyprus and
about half way up three fish bones are arranged
around the stick, these points extending outward
In order to stick the bird in case the point on
the end should miss. This harpoOn, when used,
is held In the left hand. In the right is q paddle
OF hard wood Is inches long, on the face Of which
Is groove extending almost to the end. The tip
OF the harpOon Is fitted into this groove and then
weapon Is thrown with double force. The native
can strike q fowl in water fully 100 feet distant
hunter usually carries with him q humber of
these harpoons OF various sizes.